The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
by Douglas Adams
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Book Summary Information
Author: Douglas AdamsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-26
ISBN: 0345418921
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Book Review: A Sequel That's as Good as the Original
Summary: 5 Stars
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe doesn't quite pick straight up from the Hitchhikers Guide where Zaphod Beeblebrox suggests dining at the titular restaurant. Although they do eventually end up having dinner at the final cataclysm it turns out to be just an unplanned coincidence so clearly Douglas Adams changed his mind about how the four main characters would arrive at the end of time between the two books. Still, the way they arrive is far more inventive than just hiking out for a bite to eat. The Hitchhikers Guide is my all time favorite fiction novel and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is its equal in quality so I guess that would make this book my all time favorite also.
I first read this book over 20 years ago and I still remember the restaurant itself, the talking cow and the solid black, frictionless space craft that Zaphod and crew stole. This is a book that made a major impact on my young mind. Through the first half Arthur Dent takes a backseat to the infinitely more interesting President of the Galaxy and his search for the answer to the mystery of what he erased from his own mind prior to his election. The search for the legendary planet of Magrathea, in the previous book, was only the beginning and now Zaphod continues the quest for the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything as well as the location of the man who runs the Universe. What I love about Douglas Adams is that he always manages to deliver even when it seems he can't possibly. When a writer implies to the reader that he or she might be about to read the secret of life how can a writer possibly meet expectations and yet a quarter of a century later fans still give the ultimate answer as 42. And when Douglas Adams introduces to the story the man who runs the Universe you feel like maybe it all makes sense. Douglas Adams is sort of a one man Monty Python of literature.
If you aren't a fan of sci-fi (which seems unlikely if you're reading this review) rest assured that the base on which series is supported is the humor not the sci-fi. It's hard to keep from laughing at Arthur's repulsion towards a cow, genetically bred to verbally express his desire to be eaten, describe how juicy his rump is. Douglas Adams continues to demonstrate a masterful comedic timing and a lot of the jokes are so subtle they might pass by unless the reader is paying attention (which is a good reason to read these books multiple times). After re-reading the first two books of the Hitchhikers Pent-ilogy I can honestly say I would not change a single word. If you haven't read the series yet stop goofing around and buy it.
Summary of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons? Time for a cup of tea! Join the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his uncommon comrades in arms in their desperate search for a place to eat, as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability.Among Arthur?s motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a long-time friend and expert contributer to The Hitchhiker?s Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who?s gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food speaks for itself (literally).
Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that The Hitchhiker?s Guide deleted the term ?Future Perfect? from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!
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